Eerie New Sherlock Trailer Declares 'It's Not a Game Anymore'

Sherlock fans can finally mark their calendars. The show announced its season 4 premiere date—January 1, 2017—via social media. Like the ones before it, this season will feature three episodes, and kicks off with "The Six Thatchers," which promises to bring Sherlock and Watson back together.

Though, it might not be a happy reunion. An erie new teaser, released this week, shows the literary duo immobile in a room filled with water—or is it blood?—coupled with the caption, "It's not a game anymore..."

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Earlier this year, the BBC shared a sneak peek of the season. Pictured above, the photo features the show's eponymous antihero alongside a massive bloodhound.

So what can we glean from the still? Not much, as Conan O' Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles already inspired an episode of the series. It's unlikely they'd circle back to the story, especially considering earlier this year, in an interview with the Telegraph, executive producer Steven Moffat let it slip that they would be exploring some of the author's lesser-known works this time around.

"There are stories that we are making use of in different ways. We're using stories that people don't know so much. Now we are getting into equally good, but far less well known, Conan Doyle stories."

He also cautioned that this season could be the show's last. "I don't know how long we can keep it going. I'm personally willing but I'm hardly the main draw," he said. "I would be moderately surprised if this was the last time we ever made this show. But it absolutely could be."

If that's the case, they're certainly going all out with this season's villains. Toby Jones of Harry Potter (he voiced Dobby), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Infamous fame will appear as a "baddie" on the show, and rumors are swirling that he will play Culverton Smith, a murderer who appears in The Adventure of the Dying Detective. And of course, what would Sherlock be without Jim Moriarty? He will reportedly appear in the season's third episode.